In time for tonight's 2016 MLB All-Star Game, an Under Armour Running campaign from Droga5 New York debuts with a TV and digital spot titled “Numbers” which features National League MVP and four-time All-Star, outfielder Bryce Harper. Directed by Aoife McArdle via production houses Somesuch and Anonymous Content, “Numbers” tells Harper’s story through the voice of his high school coach, Sam Thomas. As he points out the numbers that have put pressure on Harper throughout his career, we see Harper training in an empty ballpark among visual representations of those numbers frantically emerging all over – from seat numbers to scoreboards to section numbers. The film ends on a monumental shot of his feet rotating on home plate, illustrating that in a sport dominated by numbers, the genesis of Harper’s brilliance comes not from statistics, but from the first step and pivot in the batter’s box.
The overall global marketing campaign is driven by the tagline “It Comes From Below,” showing that every great sporting moment starts with the feet and that strong footwork, while often overlooked, provides the foundation to defy expectations and achieve athletic excellence.
Credits
Client Under Armour Agency Droga5 NY David Droga, creative chairman; Ted Royer, chief creative officer; Felix Richter, Alexander Nowak, group creative directors; Bryan Wolff, copywriter; Daniel Sumarna, art director; Sally-Ann Dale, chief creation officer; David Cardinali, executive producer; Troy Smith, associate producer; Jonny Bauer, global chief strategy officer; Harry Roman, head of strategy; Sam Matthews, strategy director; Colleen Leddy, head of communications strategy; Hillary Heath, communications strategy director; Kathryn Ruoco, communications strategist; Newman Granger, strategist; Anthony Khaykin, sr. data strategist. Production Somesuch and Anonymous Aoife McArdle, director; Sally Campbell, Tim Nash, founding partners, Somesuch; Eric Stern, managing director, Anonymous; SueEllen Clair, exec producer, Anonymous; Laurie Boccaccio, producer; Steve Annis, DP; Yianni Papadopoulos, production manager. Editorial Final Cut Dan Sherwen, editor; Geoff Hastings, cutting assistant, NY; Leila Gaabi, assistant editor, UK; Sarah Roebuck, exec producer; Jen Sienkwicz, head of production; Frankie Elster, producer (UK); Jamie Nagler, producer (NY). Postproduction BlackSmith Charlotte Arnold, exec producer; Megan Sweet, producer; Iwan Zwarts, VFX supervisor. Music/Sound Design Siren/Factory Sean Atherton, partner & company director
The Ad Council, partnering with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF) and AdoptUSKids, launched a public service campaign, created pro bono by Edelman, which aims to inspire prospective parents to consider adopting a teen from foster care.
This centerpiece PSA titled “The Rewards”--directed by The Hudson Dusters (Michael Kuhn and Niles Roth) via Greenpoint Pictures--spotlights real adoptive families who have personally experienced the mutual benefits of adoption. This longer form PSA (and cutdown versions) begins with a touching display of openness and vulnerability as adoptive parents reflect on their adoption journeys and their initial questions and hesitations about adopting a teen. Then, in a deeply emotional turn, the adoptive parents witness their children recounting the profound rewards of adoption in their lives. The teens speak of the love they share with their parents and how the decision to become a family is reciprocal. The campaign directs viewers to the AdoptUSKids website to learn more about adopting a teen from foster care.
